miss cayce

and she's back!

2006-08-13T19:04:00.000+08:00

Quick!July + later part of June = Uganda + Western Europe = completely, totally, absolutely worth it.Sorry I haven't been updating much. It has been an amazing experience that on my last day in Europe, I was filled with much dread at the thought of coming home. But ah, anyway Berlin -- stayed a bit longer than I thought and didn't make it to Dresden, what a pity but still... I am so glad to have

Some weekend photos

2006-07-18T03:52:00.000+08:00

Before we boozed (at the Love Parade). My travel companion for Berlin/amazing, generous host for Amsterdam, Marieke. I was so sad last night when she left. I really was. She was a great travel companion and a foodie!! Which meant that I enjoyed many good meals with her in Berlin - usually, when I travel, I am quite stingy that I tend to miss out on the greater joys of travelling - the FOOD.

Loveparade 2006 Berlin

2006-07-17T05:19:00.000+08:00

Loving Berlin!

2006-07-16T14:54:00.000+08:00

(The following is an e-mail from the past, composed on Tuesday, February 15, 2005, and sent via FutureMe.org)Dear FutureMe,Please tell me that you're in Vancouver, or at least travelling to some great locale elsewhere! If you're still stuck on that project, I shall be very upset.Because, FutureMe, I will be spending the rest of this year, wishing for where you are now! And it better be good!---

Loving the European summer...

2006-07-14T00:44:00.000+08:00

So I'm still travelling -- having a blast!! It's the best thing that's happening for me for a long while. I love it out here. I love the people, the food, the scenery, everything!!.. I feel so comfortable out here, like I did in Africa. I'm not sure whether it's a coming of age thing or change of environment but I've never been happier since I left home. Even the thought of going back is

Loving Uganda!!..

2006-07-08T06:05:00.000+08:00

CHIMPS!!! Me and my new Malagasy friend, Vonze, by Lake Victoria (on my 30th birthday!!!)Impulsively visiting a boarding school -- where I was drawn by the laughter and the local music. The children stole my heart -- they were so curious (mostly about my straight black hair), happy (yet sometimes shy), and open. They taught me how to dance the Ugandan way and sang for me. Best birthday ever. (

I'm off to see the wizard!!

2006-06-22T17:06:00.000+08:00

Well!In about half an hour, I'm going to be on a plane. Final destination: Entebbe, Uganda.10 days in Uganda.After that, I'm Europe-bound.Rushing, rushing.. Wish me fun!p/s I turn 30 this Saturday in Entebbe!!! Unreal.

Perspective

2006-06-12T00:03:00.000+08:00

God, I'm such a brat for whining over my eyebrows.Something horrible has happened and I would shave my eyebrows and hair if it means that everything would be alright again for this person.Dear God -- please make everything alright again.

Till death do us part

2006-06-11T12:20:00.000+08:00

So I'm still pissed over my eyebrows but have calmed down enough to talk about the wedding.It was great, it really was. It was beautiful, it was loving, it was all about the family. Even though I was the only bridesmaid, her cousins did most of the duties of the traditional bridesmaid. I don't feel too bad about it because it was pretty clear that they really wanted to be involved and it was a

I rant, you listen!

2006-06-11T00:15:00.000+08:00

Well, the wedding has come and gone. I'm so happy for the bride and groom and maybe if I was in a better frame of mind, I'd write about the wedding. But right now, I feel like ranting so much and everyone knows that blogs are an exercise in self-obsession so here it goes..I fucking hate that Chinese bitch!!!! I swear, I want to kill her. Ok, at best, I'd lodge a formal complaint to her boss.

Bridesmaidzilla!!

2006-06-06T23:33:00.000+08:00

If there's anything to be learnt from my dear friend's wedding preparations... is that I don't think I want to have a wedding at all. Eloping sounds quite ideal, really. All that work, stress, money!! for just one day. Maybe I'm just lazy but I'd like to use all that energy and money for something else. Like getting me lotsa stuff. STUFF.The first bridesmaid dress we picked out for me (the one

A Gawai festival

2006-06-04T21:20:00.000+08:00

On Saturday night, we went to our second Gawai celebration, but in a different kampung (yet same district). It was a fascinating study of contrasts. The first ceremony that we had attended is the only warrior ceremony to be held here in Sarawak. Because a lot of the native population these days have converted to Christanity, 'pagan' ceremonies like these have been abandoned. To be part of

In which Cayce attends a head-hunting ceremony

2006-06-02T23:11:00.000+08:00

Whee... it's Gawai!!..This year was a little different from the previous years where we usually just stay in town, cook delicious Filipino & native food, and welcome friends, guests and free-loaders.This year, I took my German friends to the kampung to witness a head-hunting ceremony, minus human heads of course. Instead a poor little piggie was sacrified. I couldn't even watch it -- it gets all

O Saint Stimpy

2006-05-30T11:46:00.000+08:00

So last Saturday, I was rummaging in the backseat of my car for my dog's missing eyeball.Yes, my weekend was a little more exciting than yours.Poor little Stimpy! I feel we are terrible, terrible dog owners. I can't believe it happened yet again. Third time. What's wrong with that damn eyeball, it keeps popping up although I can't remember which eye it was and I worry that was his good eye.

So I met a cute guy recently..

2006-05-28T23:05:00.000+08:00

Oh, Blog.. I have deserted you of lately..Let me make up to you by telling you of a guy I recently met. Oh, he is so cute, let me tell you. And he approached me first after more than a couple of hours of us looking at each other but not daring to make the first move (it was so obvious that we found each other rather interesting - hee). We kept meeting up every day after that and when he left,

Hurtling/Lord, I can't stop myself

2006-05-25T17:22:00.000+08:00

OI! I'm heading to Europe! I know, it's crazy!It's totally spur of the moment, at a time when it's high season and prices are crazy. How do I explain this? It's opportune, that's all I can say. Other than landing in Amsterdam, I have no idea where to go next or what to do(ok, I lie -- I have some ideas). As I reach the big 3-0 next month, I'm beginning to understand more of myself. For example

Bliss..

2006-05-02T01:30:00.000+08:00

I'm in bliss..I've just had a wonderful three-day weekend in a national park. We camped by the beach, snorkelled lots, night walks and sunning ourselves. It felt great to bring out the old bikini and be in company that didn't care. At first I was concerned about going on a camping trip right before I had to leave for the field for another full-blown camping trip in the jungle but this was so

sober yet high on life

2006-04-23T20:31:00.000+08:00

so it's been so crazy since i arrived home from the field. the late nights, sometimes sleepless. miss pele and i woke up so early [6:30 a.m.] on a sunday morning for our special project. kind friends came and supported us. they are wonderful!old friends, new friends.. i made several new friends very recently and it was amazing how we just *clicked*. they are responsible for my recent late

Rah rah rah!

2006-04-21T04:18:00.000+08:00

Oh bloody hell.. I can't believe it's almost 4 a.m. and I don't remember falling asleep at all. I've been up all night and I'm still so wired. Stupid alcohol. The funny thing, alcohol usually knocks me out but here I am feeling a bit crazed. Can't sleep at all. Like the hours have been minutes and minutes, seconds.All these thoughts swirling in my head and I know that I had to either write

Reading Kahlo on the Rejang

2006-04-07T20:33:00.000+08:00

Wow -- I can't believe that I'm blogging from Sibu again. I was home for only about a week before I had to head off again. One more night before I head down to ulu Katibas. This time, I took the boat express which took about five hours. Not the "three or four hours" that my field labourers claimed! It's a whole lot faster than driving up, and I don't have to worry about falling asleep on the

Road trip with my brother

2006-03-17T15:37:00.000+08:00

A solo eight hour long drive for work sucks. It really does. So I convinced my brother to come along with me, and he brought along his best friend. It was the first trip together as adults so I was a bit apprehensive how we would get along especially since we don't hang out at all.We haven't left Kuching yet when he asked about five times whether we were there yet.They were aghast that Lachau

What guys like best [futsal chicks]

2006-03-12T21:57:00.000+08:00

My futsal coach has broken down what guys like best when girls play futsal:Girl in body-hugging outfit < Girl in baggy clothes BUT with Nike futsal shoes < Girl who actually knows how to play futsalThis insight would have been really useful if I was interested in bagging a 21 year old but as it is, I'm only here for the game. Yes, I've taken up futsal! First training session anyway. It was

More than just Angkor Wat

2006-02-23T23:53:00.000+08:00

I've finally uploaded my Siem Reap photos in my flickr album; all 199 of them!! (could have sworn that I had taken more...)So everyone heads to Cambodia for the temples.. which indeed is a magnificient experience but I found exploring more of Siem Reap and its surrounding areas rounded my Cambodian experience quite nicely. Although admittedly, I did have a small taste of Cambodia in my short

The Petronas Twin Towers

2006-02-22T11:46:00.000+08:00

We went up to the viewing gallery and saw monks.

Garden Village Guesthouse, Siem Reap

2006-02-20T14:36:00.000+08:00

Photos of [one of my] accomodations in Siem Reap. It's a great location, beautiful views.. ten minute walk only on a quiet dirt road to the Old Market (and where a lot of restaurants are located). A large room for only USD7 (check out previous post for photo of room). Pity about the staff though. Balcony ViewView from my windowFriendly cat that kept me companyView from my balconyI'd take a

Questions about Siem Reap

2006-02-16T15:55:00.000+08:00

A friend forwarded me an e-mail from a friend of hers who is planning to visit Siem Reap. Here are my answers to his questions. Feel free to add any more suggestions or comments, or even more questions!1)How many days needed to see the major temples in siem reap?You only have three options: one day, three days, or a week. You could get temple burn-out by going for a week, unless you’re willing

It's her birthday!!!

2006-02-14T14:12:00.000+08:00

Damaged Originally uploaded by miss cayce.I've recently returned from a short holiday in KL, to celebrate my dear friend's birthday. I was more excited about her birthday than she was, so much so that I kept announcing it to everyone that we met in KL. Heh. I'm so embarassing to be with sometimes.There were many highlights of the trip -- one of them visiting Batu Caves during the Thaipusam.

Bananas on wheels

2006-02-02T19:54:00.000+08:00

Bananas on wheels Originally uploaded by miss cayce.In Siem Reap, anything goes.. I'd always remember being sandwiched between a French girl and our Khmer motorcycle driver as we hurtled through early morning traffic, heading for Chong Khneas, a Vietnamese "floating village"/port. None of us had a helmet on and it was my third motorcycle ride in my life ever**. Needless to say, I was a little

Just another day at work

2006-01-23T22:54:00.000+08:00

It was hard to say goodbye to this campsite -- it was the best, most gorgeous, largest beach we camped on. You could do a decent jog on it! Not that I did - man, after over 6 km on hilly terrain per day, all you wanna do is to sleep on your hammock or read a good book. And oh yes, swim in the deliciously cold water (alas, I had no opportunities to go skinny-dipping)! It even had a resident

On the road once more

2006-01-09T19:16:00.000+08:00

Tonight, I'm sharing a twin room with my field assistant (RM60/night) at the Dragon Inn, Sarikei. I could have justified spending up to RM100 to make sure we have two rooms (after all, he is a married man) but sometimes, ... sometimes I like to save some money for our field expenses. Make the ringgit stretch. Even when it's not my money.Anyhow, we have to get up around 4:30 a.m. to make sure

Siem Reap High

2006-01-05T17:37:00.000+08:00

Back from Siem Reap! I had such an amazing time that I didn't really feel inclined to sit down in a cyber cafe and blog about my experiences because there were so many anyway. Instead I wrote e-mails to friends and chatted online whenever I could - it helped dispelled some of the initial loneliness when I first arrived. But I quickly acclimatized to solo travelling and truly enjoyed going

The bubble tea ritual

2005-12-17T16:41:00.000+08:00

Aww! I think I'm starting my own bubble tea ritual here.. Meet travellers, take them out for bubble tea, which isn't exactly a Malaysian nor Bornean traditional drink. But I really like it. :D Denni's one really cool woman. She's backpacking on her own, off to places that most travellers would rather avoid: Sulawesi, Kalimantan, and the Maluku Islands. I'm avidly following her blog because

Fancy a free film screening??

2005-12-12T23:23:00.000+08:00

I know, it's been a while. I've been really busy with Life lately, including organizing the free film festival here in Kuching (and on a volunteer basis too!).It's to be held this weekend, on the 17th and 18th of December, 2005 at the Old Courthouse Theatre, starting from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The films are on the natural world, wildlife and people. Think National Geographic and Animal Planet

Looking on the bright side of life

2005-11-16T10:26:00.000+08:00

Ah crap! I forgot to go to court today... Whoops. And in other news, I got my laptop, wallet and handphone stolen last week, yada yada. I also visited a bomoh! That was really weird yet very interesting. Yikes, I could barely watch when he started cutting himself. But I liked the guy. And his gangster-like helpers. They were very funny. Yeah, a bloggable post on its very own. I am

"Take my picture," she asked shyly.

2005-11-01T23:07:00.000+08:00

It's time once more -- off I go, if the Fates are kind. Today was a great day because I spent the whole evening talking to Totally Awesome Person. Everytime I meet up with this person, I come away re-energized. It's pretty amazing how time flies when I'm with them. I come away, brimming with ideas and excitement. Today was also a good day to reflect on my life and I know that I sound like a

In which Cayce describes the weenie dance and other stuff.

2005-10-31T20:30:00.000+08:00

At first the Iban women appeared with realistic horror masks. The gorilla mask was kinda cute but the other horror mask was just.. ghastly. It was sub-human, with wicked red-shot eyes, sallow skin, and a wide gash for a mouth, cramped with sharp small teeth. Watching it stumbling towards me, gave me chills down my spine.The ghastly pair were gyrating to the live traditional Iban music. The

On being a clotheshorse

2005-10-30T22:55:00.000+08:00

I received one of the nicest compliments tonight:"I always look forward to seeing what you'd wear."Aww... thought I, as I went through my internal monologue, "that is so true -- I am AWESOME!"Tonight was a dinner function and I had on a black lacy see-through kebaya top (black tube top underneath) and a dark blue Thai silk wrap-around skirt. I had bought the top from a market in Ubud, Bali -- it

I dreamed of Africa

2005-10-24T16:27:00.000+08:00

Yumm.. nothing beats like an impromptu ice cream party at the office. I had the choice between corn ice cream or durian ice cream -- I opted for the former. Life has been crazy lately but good. Today was especially a very good day. I think part of it has got to be the great weather we've having right now. **It's not raining!!**Soo.. I'm heading to Africa next year. :) Uganda, more

Pain killer

2005-10-18T17:21:00.000+08:00

I feel like a troll in Klatch in this heat..Brains turning into mush. Cold and clammy... Yesterday I had to leave work half a day early because of the little imps clanging cowbells in my head. Today, I had a series of cat-naps. I'd like to say that I'm feeling better but the dull ache in my head and a perpetually runny nose won't let me. You know what's my favourite part of the day? Right

In which Cayce visits Pontianak, Indonesia and wishes for a jellied donut

2005-10-16T20:45:00.000+08:00

I recently returned from a four-day work trip to Pontianak, in West Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo). It is only a twenty minute flight from Kuching, via Batavia Air. There are two flights from Kuching: Batavia Air and MAS. The former is much cheaper and faster (because it's a Boeing compared to MAS' Fokker). Sure, you have much better food in MAS (the chicken and cheese sandwiches are so good.

Perkiness is annoying when it's happening to someone else

2005-10-10T10:37:00.000+08:00

Happiness is:+ an amazing hair day+ morning glories by the doggies+ Dave Matthews Band mp3s (thanks Dee!)+ kind American stranger offering to send me a copy of Jared Diamond's Collapse. + inexplicable feelings of happiness and contentment (although I'm usually perkier in the mornings)Monday blues? Bah.

How to spot the Professional Whiner

2005-10-09T19:09:00.000+08:00

Lesson no.1: often enough, there are warning signs that one should look out for.The fact that she bitches about her good friends, her family, her boss, her colleagues -- laying down the blame on almost everybody but of course, herself. This sort of 'victim' mentality really irritates me. How everyone else is the Big Bad Wolf out to get ya. How self-absorbed could one get? Another warning sign

of catlike behaviour

2005-10-07T17:13:00.000+08:00

I'm currently reading "How to Speak Dog: the Art of Dog-human communication" by Stanley Coren. It's a fun read, with a visual glossary.There was a blurb about the social levels of cats that made me grin. You see, cats don't have an obvious dominance hierarchy like dogs too. The dog pack is rather similar to the human society with a linear top to bottom pecking order. This keeps the pack

Feeling lonely?

2005-10-05T16:46:00.000+08:00

Do you feel lonely in your own country? I can attest to that -- usually when I'm in a crowd of folks and they're spinning these jokes that I, a local, don't get. I prefer being in company of selected few. Often enough, I rather be on my own than with company I easily get bored or don't connect with. And no, it's not lonely.I do enjoy meeting with other travellers, and hearing their stories

Love

2005-10-03T21:21:00.000+08:00

Sometimes, I feel very lucky with my work -- that unlike most people, I actually get to go out and live and experience true Sarawakian culture, if only for a while. Actually, this is the first time that I've had to live in a longhouse in transit to my fieldsite. I have to admit that initially, I wasn't too keen because well, I'm just not used to living in a longhouse (I had to sleep in the

A Very Important Announcement

2005-09-25T23:02:00.000+08:00

Gouda grief! I can't believe that I didn't list Keanu Reeves of my "Top 7 Celeb list". So let's strike off, say.. Colin Firth's character in Love Actually and add Keanu Reeves. Yeah, I feel all better now.p/s Daniel -- I'd post your meme up when I get back from the field. *insert guilty grin here*

Sunday brunch in a sleepy town called Siniawan

2005-09-20T17:34:00.000+08:00

I recently bought a secondhand Minolta Dynax 300si (SLR) camera for only RM100 (25 american dollars) from my boss. He immediately offered to me when he heard that I was interested in getting an SLR camera. I love the feel of it and the fun of manual focusing (alas, it's not a complete manual camera). Last weekend, my sister and her professional photographer friend took me out on a photography

Sevenses

2005-09-19T18:51:00.000+08:00

It's been a very good stay in town since I've gotten back. Slow in updating because, well, life's been in the way. Got this meme from Daniel. Seven things I want to do before I die:1. To watch the sunset and sunrise at Angkor Wat.2. Navigate my way through Latin America long enough that leaves me proficient in Spanish.3. Drive a Vespa around the foothills of Italy or Spain.4. Send my parents

Contact

2005-09-14T17:48:00.000+08:00

"You look different.""Perhaps it's the glasses. You haven't seen me in these yet.""Perhaps.. or perhaps it's because you've been in the jungle for so long that it's changed you."* * * * * * * * * * *A guy tried to pick me up at the mall the other day. I noticed him and his buddy noticing me but then I had veered off into the girly shops. When our paths crossed the second time, he came up to me

Blogging Rule #21: When in blog block, post photos of your dogs

2005-09-13T20:27:00.000+08:00

Young Iban beauty

2005-09-12T18:56:00.000+08:00

Cliche title, I know but she is gorgeous -- can't deny that. She was on a longboat, with her family. Our boat engine died halfway through our trip and her dad (who knew us) kindly stopped by to help us out. I just got back from my field trip over the weekend. Pretty eventful as always. I always feel a pang on my last day, for leaving the field. But it's always good to be back -- so many

Mystery of the Locked door

2005-08-28T16:18:00.000+08:00

More photos here. There's a sequence to them and it makes sense when you click on them individually, following the order. Mosaic set, thanks to the Mosaic Maker.

of love and other demons

2005-08-27T21:40:00.000+08:00

The new area that I'm working in -- it takes four days to get there. I think I spend as much time travelling as I do with actual fieldwork. It's not so bad in the sense that I get to spend almost each day in a different place.One of these places is a longhouse. The people are friendly and hospitable however I was unaware of its reputation amongst the other longhouses downriver.A day after we

Got stuff?

2005-08-25T17:32:00.000+08:00

I wish I was more organized. I have a system, methinks -- organized clutter. Neat piles of papers and books on the floor. Ok, maybe not so neat. It's rather embarrassing to have the messiest cubicle in the office and the funny thing is that I know where everything is, kinda. Just don't move my stuff around without telling me. Having a neat-freak for a boyfriend once was rather useful. He'd

The best things in life are silly.

2005-08-24T22:07:00.000+08:00

Chemistry's a funny thing -- you can find it with the most incompatible person around although in my case, it's not that extreme. You forget how delicious the tingly feeling you get whenever you're close to that person, and how you tend to babble a wee bit when they're around until it happens and you're left with a wry grin on your face. They unnerve you, and you react. Sigh. Combine that

I'm back! No I'm not!

2005-08-06T22:45:00.000+08:00

Wheee.. This morning, I was sitting cross-legged in a longhouse that is over four hours drive + one hour's boat ride from town, and now I'm back at home typing away on my notebook computer.Long story or rather I should say, rant but.. I guess I'm an optimist because I do believe that it has worked out to my favour (as they usually do!!). Sure, I was all pissed-off this morning, glowering all

Hooray for Peter Pumpkinhead

2005-08-04T22:30:00.000+08:00

There's a lot to be said about civility towards people that you don't necessarily feel friendly or disagree with -- it's just human courtesy and decency. Anyway.. What's beautiful is the amazing friendships I'm rediscovering, the online support and messages that make me smile, e-mails from very cool readers!!.. Arrghh.. I know that I owe some of you worthy e-mails -- I promise to get back to

The passenger

2005-08-03T20:59:00.000+08:00

Have you ever felt a tree frog on your skin? It's a lovely sensation, I assure you. It's cool and soft to the touch. This little fellow jumped on our longboat for a ride -- it eventually jumped on my legs, and proceeded to jump on my shoulder, where it stayed quite happily for a couple of hours! When we stopped at a river bank for lunch, it hopped back on the boat, where it eventually

Rabbit, rabbit!

2005-08-01T16:10:00.000+08:00

Interesting -- I've just realized that I'm perfectly coordinated from my bracelets (turquoise and sea-green crystal), to my dress (mixture of these colours) to my flats (sea-green blue). My favourite new acquisitions are two rocks with painted cute illustrations: one depicts a sleeping blue elephant with long darling eyelashes, the other, a chubby female figure in a bathing suit with the word "

What's pouring out of my head.

2005-07-29T15:10:00.000+08:00

I'm feeling a bit lazy these days to blog properly. I'm in a nice haze of accepting where I am now, knowing what I want in the future (although admittedly, getting hold of my flip-flopping sentiments is proving to be a challenge), and just enjoying the NOW. Of course there are moments of anxiety but it's work-related. A. gave me really good advice yesterday, on seeing my situation in a

Being completely random

2005-07-27T16:14:00.000+08:00

Funny, I seem to have lost my voice for a while. I'm having difficulty putting recent wonderful experiences into words. Although I can't say that I've been trying hard. Dare I say that my path seems much clearer now? Interesting things have been happening of late and they're falling like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, illuminating where I should take tentative steps. Dare I say that I feel

Rainbow's end

2005-07-25T11:13:00.000+08:00

How amazing it is to catch a glimpse of a complete rainbow, from start to finish! I had gasped when the boat turned away from the pier and sped towards our destination, and there it was.. It was just so beautiful. One of those my-heart-felt-so-full moments.I immediately rummaged in my backpack for my camera and took some shots, which was pretty hard to do on choppy waters! It was such a

Smack me, I'm grinning like an idiot.

2005-07-13T13:42:00.000+08:00

I had to share this because it was special. I did meet someone over the weekend. We had met at a pool party at around 2 a.m. last Friday night where I had nervously showed up, clad in a bikini and sarong. I had decided at the last minute to join the party, despite the fact that I didn’t know anyone, save for one person. So I was on my own, floating in the pool when I noticed this guy edging

Oh my freaking goodness

2005-07-11T16:44:00.000+08:00

Best. Weekend. EVAH.I feel like a brand-new person honestly. ALL the people I spent time with - LOVE. It was like this bright happy bubble where everyone was so amazingly super with me. Loved the special time with my best friends, Joyce and Andrea. These girls are like therapy in a bottle or something. Everytime I'm with them, my heart feels so light. I also really enjoyed spending time

Let me sing you a waltz

2005-07-05T20:25:00.000+08:00

It was a beautiful sunset today - purples, in a streak across Mt. Kubah. Had a good run in the evening and took the secret route back to my place: hardly any traffic, and sudden burst of greenery on both sides for a long stretch. The route takes me towards the sunset -- it's so lovely. Sometimes, I could see egrets flying, across the windy river. My heart feels like it could burst with so

Jesus loves you

2005-07-04T21:17:00.000+08:00

My pirated dvd seller wears a t-shirt that says, “Jesus died to save your sins.”I feel guilty for not feeling guilty enough.The Motorcycle Diaries was an amazing movie – I can’t wait to travel to South America! I’ve been wanting to go for ages but just seeing it, and hearing the language, makes me all more determined to go. Imagine, to go on a remarkable journey that completely changes your

Psssst!!..

2005-07-02T20:20:00.000+08:00

What if... I told you that I started a secret blog?Would you be interested in reading it?It's just a place away from home where I could write/angst/rant/rave in peace. I'd still update this blog faithfully however so no biggie.Feel free to drop me a line at but please tell me something about yourself and how you found my blog. I'd be less inclined to give the url to a completely anonymous

Source of my travellin' urges

2005-07-01T23:41:00.000+08:00

I'm very much inspired by this person I know, who left Manila with just USD200, for Canada. It took her a very long while to save that much money. She was about my age, actually much younger. She spent half of her money on a coat in Hong Kong and arrived in Ontario with USD100 in her pocket.She had hooked up with this agency to help her find work as a nurse in Kingston but when she (and other

Beautiful, specific details

2005-07-01T10:18:00.000+08:00

Celine, Before Sunset: "I feel I was never able to forget anyone I've been with. Cuz each person has their own specific qualities. You can never replace anyone. What is lost is lost. Each relationship when it ends really damages me; I never fully recover. That is why I'm very careful with getting involved because it hurts too much. Even getting laid, I actually don't do that because I will miss

Behind these sad eyes

2005-06-30T11:15:00.000+08:00

I've been putting it off for years so today, I felt that I should finally get it done - my MyKad, that is. It's apparently the "world's first national smart card scheme", which is compulsory for all citizens of Malaysia. All biometric data about yourself is stored in an in-built computer chip, making it easier for the government to track and know more about you. I've resisted getting one on

Romantic optimism

2005-06-27T21:11:00.000+08:00

After all that whirlwind of sudden clarity, acceptance and release, I find myself sitting in front of my notebook computer with feelings of bittersweet nostalgia. Of what it was like to be loved (romantically) and love. To care so much about the person that their achievements feel like yours, and their disappointments, heart-breaking. For sure, I feel that about my family and closest friends

He just wasn't that into me

2005-06-26T20:55:00.000+08:00

And so I was briefing my sister over my latest development over dessert at the ol’ neighbourhood ice cream shoppe, when she paused between bites of her ice cream sundae, and said, “he’s just not into you.”“Eh?” The phrase sounded familiar – I recalled my friend sending me links of an Oprah episode that featured writers from the Sex and the City show, who wrote the so-titled book. Of course,

Picking myself up again

2005-06-25T16:36:00.001+08:00

I tried writing an entry but it turned into a rant, something that I am not ready to share yet.I do not like beating myself up for my mistakes, because I cannot change the past. I won’t dwell on the past because nothing good would come out of it. I think I’m a fairly optimistic person, and it is important for me to cling on to hope. *crosses fingers

Dear me

2005-06-22T17:19:00.000+08:00

(this message was composed on Sat, Jan 22, 2005)Dear FutureMe,I wrote an e-mail to you, meant for this date but accidentally pressed the send button without changing the year so expect FutureMe rant say.. hm... about a year from now.So FutureMe - how's fieldwork going? Hope things worked out. Am panicking on this end because I haven't really done anything yet. But it'd all work out right?Love

This is life

2005-06-22T00:17:00.000+08:00

I feel much better today; I’ve resolved an important issue and gained insight in the heart and mind. I also have to say, my friends helped a lot – I truly appreciate their love and support and humour. It feels so good to laugh at the angsty stuff, and especially at ME, for it makes me feel that I could overcome it. And oh, confidances over an informal chinese tea ceremony is therapeutic!

Everybody loves the Japanese girl

2005-06-20T15:22:00.000+08:00

I love the jackets. Makes me wish I was in a cold country so I could wear layers again.I adore the girl on the left but I think if I were to wear a skirt that short, I'd probably wear dark stockings because I feel shy about my legs.This girl is just so cute! I love her entire ensemble.So stylin' but realistically, I can't see myself in these outfits. If I had an angular body, perhaps. Way too

No respite

2005-06-20T05:07:00.000+08:00

It’s 4:30 in the morning and I’m too exhausted to go back to sleep. It seems that I can’t get any respite from my dreams. Some people don’t remember their dreams – they go to sleep, and wake up refreshed. I, depending on what state of mind that I’m in, have vivid dreams about almost everything. Sometimes I have dreams about events that happen later in the future. May sound like fun but it’s

Solitude

2005-06-19T22:53:00.000+08:00

I was on an elevated beachwalk when I took this photo - thus, the sea looks like a mural background (to me anyway). I love this photo for a couple of reasons, one of which is that this could be anywhere else. Which is where I want to be right now.Hmm.. at this moment, I wouldn't mind being in Japan (probably because I'm browsing through Japanese streetstyle fashion as I write this!) to shop in

Anywhere but here

2005-06-18T12:19:00.000+08:00

So many photos recently, so little words.. I guess I’ve grown reticent on what to share on this journal. Once bitten by blog melodrama, twice shy. It doesn’t bother me so much about how people would react to my words, despite not knowing the full story but rather, the idea of acquaintances knowing so much about my life, and gossiping about it. Ah! It seems that almost everyone around me

It ain't Bollywood without a little song & dance

2005-06-15T10:24:00.000+08:00

Lunch at the Bollywood cafe on Carpenter Street.I would have taken photos of our food but my batteries died on me. We had nasi campur (mixed rice) which is basically white rice + meat + veggies. It comes with soup, papadom and dall (sp? a lentil-based sauce). All that for only RM3. We also had samosas (the best in town) which left us more than a little stuffed! I had wanted to try out the

Girlfriend therapy

2005-06-13T16:42:00.000+08:00

I usually spend my Sunday afternoons with my good friend, A. My favourite moment is when we end up in a cafe to chat and laugh over iced chocolates (although yesterday we had iced lemon tea instead). She never ceases to put a smile on my face.

What dreams may come?

2005-06-10T14:48:00.000+08:00

I had a dream about us last night.We are in a car: you in the passenger seat, myself in the driver's seat but somehow we could control the car together. But we're driving backwards for some reason and I am nervous of the winding road and the other moving cars. Why couldn't we go forwards or at least turn the car around and follow the traffic? Yet you seem to know what you are doing. The car

Monday lunch hour

2005-06-06T21:03:00.000+08:00

Today's lunch consisted of vegetable mushroom chicken noodles (turns out that the chicken was "vegetarian", i.e. starchy) & jasmine green tea.Unfortunately, the veggie noodles was rather tasteless. Next time, I should just stick to the dry noodles (with real pork - yum!).

World's solution for a bad day (hint: cuddle)

2005-06-05T22:43:00.000+08:00

But today was a good day.

.happy.

2005-06-04T20:43:00.000+08:00

Bright, shiny round objects

2005-05-31T16:58:00.000+08:00

Oranges from Satok marketI took my mum to the market today to buy bananas (the cooking kind). Today's been a flurry of preparation at the house for tomorrow, when most natives in Sarawak (including our family) celebrate Gawai. Except in our case, we'd be having mostly Filipino food along with chicken-in-the-bamboo. There's even going to be halo-halo and possibly, pig's blood pudding. The best

Minor hypochondriac attack!

2005-05-30T19:20:00.000+08:00

My colleague has shingles!! And he actually pulled up his shirt to show us a blistering rash on his back. I had a vague recollection of what shingles were so I asked M. about it. He explained that it was a second outbreak of the chickenpox virus, and that contact with an infected person will not cause shingles.“Oh, good!”“Although someone who has never had chicken pox could contract it through

A little bit of rock, a little bit of dangdut

2005-05-29T10:42:00.000+08:00

I haven’t been to many rock concerts but I kinda have an idea how they work: band plays vigorous music, audience participate with flailing limbs and/or enthusiastic head nodding. So when A. and I walked into the auditorium last weekend to the sight of a band playing fervent head-thumping music, and an audience sitting primly in their seats, I was mightily confused. And then I laughed, “Is this

The Case of the Missing England

2005-05-27T19:22:00.000+08:00

What do you do with an intern who doesn’t take initiative in the field, and has such a bad command of English that she resorts to blatant plagiarism on her essays (or rather she’s just lazy to write a paper on her own)? My intern has a BSc. from a local university and has had extensive classes in English. And yet, her first field report was so atrocious that I felt it wasn’t even up to

Holy blog update, Batman!

2005-05-23T21:42:00.000+08:00

Someone recently asked why I’ve been writing less frequently, even when I’m in town (alas, I can’t access the internet when I’m in the field – it would be wonderful if I could!!). Well, there are a couple of reasons, one of which is that lately, I’ve been uncomfortable with the idea of who’s actually reading this. I don’t fancy acquaintances reading this blog (blogger meetups are such a bad

My disastrous non-date OR What not to say to me OR Don’t be this guy, part two

2005-05-17T09:53:00.001+08:00

11th item of what NOT to say to me: “I wanted to see a pissed-off Cayce.”Obviously, if you were to utter the above example, you do not know me very well. I do not like that at all. It’s dumb and immature to intentionally piss off people, especially me!Tweedledee is about one of the strangest persons I know, and that’s not necessarily a compliment. I’m beginning to wonder now whether he’s just

Great Slaty woodpecker

2005-05-16T11:38:00.000+08:00

This is what I saw on my trip. It's the great slaty woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus). It's pretty big, about the size of a chicken (almost the size of a hornbill) but slimmer. You're more likely to hear it first before catching a glimpse of it because they're very noisy birds (their call is a loud, rapid wavering 2-5 note whinny: woi-kwoi-kwoi-kwoik...). A similar possibility is the

A little retail therapy = stress relief

2005-05-14T20:59:00.000+08:00

Today’s shopping mission (“if I so choose to accept it” – hee!) was to scout out new bamboo blinds for my bedroom window and buy doggie treats.I didn’t even come close to that.First, I needed a bubble tea fix and since I was in the area, I popped into the bookstore on Carpenter Street. They’re having a moving sale and some of the deals are fantastic. I’ve picked up books on Hose’ memoirs (a

The Gods must be crazy

2005-05-13T13:32:00.000+08:00

I don’t get it. The Gods of Camping must hate me or something because it never fails to spring a leak just above my hammock, rather than anybody else’s. Even if it’s a new campsheet. You try sleeping on a damp hammock for days. It is not fun. It rained so much in the field this week. I had to sacrifice my poncho to fix up the leak above my hammock, which meant that when I was working in the

Scenes from the river

2005-05-12T15:38:00.000+08:00

Kelambu ("mosquito net" - yes, that's his real name) poles down the river.Going through the rapids.Blue church by a longhouse. I saw one that was actually attached to the longhouse. Pretty interesting. It was definitely the best field trip after a long while. No more annoying intern and much better field staff given to me this time around. Glad to be back and sleeping on my own bed though.

On a Twin Otter

2005-05-04T22:59:00.000+08:00

On a Twin Otter Originally uploaded by miss cayce.I would like to be anywhere but here right now. Many thanks to Neil for gifting me a pro flickr account weeks ago!!! Take a look at his flickr account: [The User]. He's got some great photos from Southeast Asia, and everywhere else. :-) Much honoured, Neil. I shall keep on clicking..

A holiday wish

2005-05-03T12:04:00.000+08:00

On my last field trip, my mosquito net was swarmed by semut api (fire ants). If you haven’t heard of them, consider yourself lucky. They have the worst bite ever – it feels like a sharp needle stabbing your skin and the pain just increases from the initial bite. These ants only come out in the dark and we have to be careful around the campsite because the ground then is swarming with fire ants

He's a great guy but I wouldn't want to date him.

2005-04-29T21:58:00.000+08:00

Tweedledum: Cayce, I need to ask you an important question. But it's not my question. I heard it from someone, who heard it from someone else, who was told by some other person.Marita (with glee): This is like Chinese whispers.Me (suspiciously): What's the question?Tweedledum: They need to know.. are you going out with D.?Marita, myself and the rest of the girls: BWAA HAHA hAA HAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

When guys try too hard

2005-04-27T22:36:00.000+08:00

I’ve had discussions about this before with my girlfriends – about guys who try too hard, too fast, and end up being Mr. Scary Potentially Stalker Kind of Guy. Just when I think that I've met them all, another guy comes along to prove that there are more clueless guys out there.. Therefore, I am only blogging the following as a public service on what NOT to do when you're interested in a chick.

Away, she says.

2005-04-14T08:43:00.000+08:00

Just a quick note that I won't be updating for a long while. No drama or anything like that - I'd just be away. Lately, I've been browsing sites on street fashion around the world. Here's an interesting site on street fashion in Japan: Tokyo Street Style. And oh, I just had and lost an opportunity to be in an international nature documentary. They were keen on filming my work but my boss